Due to the ever increasing costs of electricity many homeowner have turned to renewable energy sources to power their homes and save on their electricity bill. And having Federal and State tax incentives only made the prices of these systems more affordable to the average consumer.
These are the reasons why interest in renewable energy sources is rising fast. Even though the most common systems nowadays are solar panels, residential wind turbines are fast catching up as the popular choice for homeowners. Solar panels were the most popular simply because it was non evasive, but recent technology has made wind turbines a very viable choice of renewable energy for homeowners.
Wind power has a couple of advantages over other renewable energy sources but the cost is what really makes people think of getting them. A typical home turbine costs less than half the price of a same sized solar panel system. But there are some things that you need to consider before you buy and install your own wind turbine system; average wind speed, obstructions, the size of the lot it will be put in, and zoning regulations.
Most of the wind turbines being sold today have cut in speeds of 6 to 8 miles per hour, if the wind in the area doesn’t reach these speeds the output of the turbine won’t be as large as you want it to be. It’s recommended that you first check wind maps of your area to check if there is enough wind passing through.
In placing your turbine, you must also consider the surroundings if there are obstructions. The turbine should be placed in an area that is free from obstacles that can block the passage of the wind or may create turbulence. The problem of turbulence can be solved easily by increasing the tower height. As a rule your turbine should be placed at least 30 feet higher than the surrounding obstacles in a 300 foot radius or if it the obstacle is too high then it should be at least 500 feet away.
The surrounding topography also plays a vital role in the efficiency of your wind turbine. Surrounding mountains, hills, and valleys all have an effect on the output of the turbine. The size of the lot where the turbine will be placed on should also be taken into consideration; the recommended area should be at least 1 acre so there would be enough placement options and will be able to conform to local zoning laws. Many communities have set laws on what properties will be able to support a wind turbine installation; these are primarily based on tower height and how far they should be set back from property lines. To avoid hassles you should check the local zoning and permits department of your city if you are allowed to place a wind turbine within your property.
Residential wind turbines are a very viable source of free energy; it’s clean, efficient, and helps decrease the carbon footprints you leave behind. Now, what’s keeping you from using one of these babies for yourself?
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